08/21/2026
Article Review: Morphological Alterations in the Thalamus, Striatum, and Pallidum in Autism Spectrum Disorder (2016)
ManuelaSchuetze,MinTaeMPark,IvyYKCho,FrankPMacMaster,MMallarChakravartyandSigneLBray
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27125303/
A fascinating brain-imaging study offers another way to understand why some behaviors associated with autism may be more complicated than simply “refusing,” “being stubborn,” or “not wanting to change.” Researchers compared MRI scans from 373 males with autism and 384 typically developing males. They did not find that the major subcortical brain structures were simply larger or smaller in autism. Instead, they found subtle differences in the shape and surface area of specific regions of the thalamus, putamen, and globus pallidus, areas involved in attention, movement, learning, habits, flexible thinking, and shifting from one action or expectation to another.
A particularly interesting finding involved the globus pallidus. The researchers identified age-related differences in the shape of the right putamen and globus pallidus. These structures are part of the basal ganglia and participate in circuits supporting motor control, learning, cognition, and the selection or modification of actions. The autistic group showed a different relationship between age and the shape of these regions than the typically developing group.The authors interpreted this as possible evidence that some subcortical structures may follow different developmental trajectories in autism. However, this conclusion needs caution because researchers did not follow the same children as they grew older. They compared different people of different ages at one point in time.
Among autistic participants, greater surface area in portions of the bilateral globus pallidus was associated with more pronounced restricted and repetitive behaviors on the ADOS. The globus pallidus participates in basal-ganglia circuits involved in cognitive and motor control. The authors therefore suggested that differences within these circuits may be related to repetitive behavior in autism. Again, this is a correlation, not evidence that the globus pallidus directly causes repetitive behaviors.The study adds to a broader shift in autism neuroscience away from looking for one “autism brain region.” Instead, autism increasingly appears to involve differences in the development and organization of interconnected brain systems.
For parents, this information may encourage us to approach difficult moments with more curiosity and compassion. A child who struggles with transitions, unexpected changes, repetitive behaviors, or shifting attention may be having a genuinely hard time adapting in that moment. This study cannot tell us exactly what is happening for any individual child, and it does not mean that every behavior is explained by brain differences. But it can remind us to ask, “What might be making this hard right now?” before assuming a child is simply choosing not to cooperate.
That perspective can shape how we support children. Advance notice, predictable routines, extra processing time, visual or verbal preparation, and practicing flexibility in small, manageable steps may make change easier. Repetitive behaviors may also help a child regulate, organize, or cope, so understanding their purpose can be more helpful than automatically trying to stop them. Parents can still provide boundaries and expectations while giving children the support they need to build flexibility over time. The goal is not constant adaptability, but helping children develop skills while feeling understood, safe, and supported.
